Improvement in crutches



JOHN WENTWORTH TUTTLE, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

'Letters Patent No. 108,303, dated October 11, 1870.

IMMPROVEMENT lN CRUTCHES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent au making part; otheaame.

To all persons to whom these presents may come:

Be it known that i, Jona iinnrwonrrr TUTTLF., of Newton, of the countyof Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an ImprovedCrutch- Foot; and do hereby declare the same to be fully dcscribed inthe following speci'iication and represented in the accompanyingrdrawing, of which- Figure 1 is a front elevation ot part of a crutchwith my improved ball-audsocket foot applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same.

In such drawing` A denotes the lower portieri oi' a crutch, such asiscommonly used by an invalid or lame person.

B is the foot, which is connected to the crutch by a hall-and-socketjoint, the ball of which is shown at (t, and its socket at h, the ballbeingr fixed to a shank, c, which screws up into the crutch.

The body of the foot is a cylindrical metallic case, e, open at bottom,and there having an annulns or metallic disk, f, screwed into it, thecase being formed with a female screw to receive a corresponding Inalcscrew cut on the periphery of the annulus or disk.

To the said. annulus or disk there is fastened, by screws or otherproper means, a cylindrical sole, g, of leather or other suitablematerial, having a diameter greater than that of the disk o1' annnlus,the same being so as to cause the sole to project beyond the disk al1around the latter, and where'l projecting to constitute a shoulder tobear against the lower edge of the case, and there make a close or tightjoint when screwed up against it.

The socket b is made in or constitutes part cfa cup, h, which is ofmetal and separate from and arranged within the case c.

Between the said cup andthe annulus or disk fis one or a series ofIndia-rubber rings or springs, it', which serve to sustain the cup andas a cushion to relieve the crutch or the user from concussion or jarresnltingr from the blow of the foot on the ground or a floor while thecrutch may be in use.

An elastic bow, l, made of India rubber encompasses the shank of theball, and covers the ball and the openinzgr m in the top of the case,and' is confined to the case by a dat annulns, n, and a series ofscrews, o, going through the latter and being screwed into the top of'the case.

The elastic baud, while admitting the necessary lateral and up-and-dwnmovements ofthe crutch relatively tothe foot, protects the ball and itssocket from dust and water, which otherwise would be liable.

to work thereon during use of the crutch.

Freni the above it will be seen that the ball-socket is completelyprotected from the entrance of water or dirt at either end of the footor its case.

The foot, while the crutch may b'e in use, will readily adapt itselfl tothe surface on which it may be pressed, whether such may be horizontalor more or less ininclincd. The sole heilig of a yielding material willprevent the crutch from slipping on an icy or wet surd face.

I claim- 1. 'lhe combination and arrangement of the screw, disk, orannuius f, with the sole g, the case e, and ball a and socket b,thereof.

2. The combination of the elastic hood land -its fastenngs n o with theball aand its shank c, the case e, and the socket or cup h, forsupport-ing the ball.

3. 'lhe arrangement and combination of the annular spring or springs t',the disk or annulus f, the sole g, the cup h., the ball a, and its shankc, and the case e, all as described.

4. The combination and arrangement cf the sole g, the annnlus f, the cuph, the case c, the ball a, and its shank c, and the elastic vhead l, allmade as explained.V

5. The sole g, the annulus f, the case e, the

spring or springs t', the cup h,the ball a, and its shank c, and theelastic hood l, all constructed, combined, and arranged substantially asand to operate as described.

JOHN WENTWORTH TUTTLE. Y Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, J. R. SNOW.

